It all started when I wanted to save some money and went to a regular imports mechanic for my 2005 mini. My brake sensor came on and I needed new from brake pads ONLY. I could do them myself but I was strapped for time and did not have the sensor..

When I picked up my MINI he advised me that he changed ALL the brakes and ALL the rotors. I know that I did not need the rear brakes or ANY rotors. What to do? I had to pay him to get my car back.

The sensor was still on so I went back to him. He said he forgot to put the new one on. He comes out after a while and now advises me that the sensor light is on bcause he put on the wrong brk pads and rotors. OMG!!!

I am really mad at this guy. I am going to file a claim against this guy once my car is fixed.


The moral of this story is do it myself or go to mini. Ugg!

 

Sounds fishy. The sensor is reset by turning the ignition on for 30 seconds without starting the car. That said, it sounds like this mechanic is an idiot. It is impossible to "forget" the sensor since you have to transfer it to the new pad. Secondly, how can you put on wrong rotors and pads?

The thing that people have to remember is that just replacing the front pads on a car is not profit-making. Many shady brake places do exactly what happened to you or worse. A lot of times they will try to tell you that your drive shafts or rotors or whatever need replacing when they really dont. I was told after one "inspection" that my CV joints need replacing as well as my rotors. I got home and pulled the wheels and got out my micrometer and sure enough, I had still half the life left on my rotors...and the CV boots were untouched. Liars!
Never ever ever take your car to someone other than the dealership(which are almost as bad).

My advice is to do it yourself. Octaneguy has a couple of awesome write-ups for the beginner. It is an easy job. When I did my brakes I found errors that the dealership had made the last time they serviced it.

 

How much were you quoted for the front brake pad installation? Did he give you a printed copy of the estimate with your signature on it?

You only gave authorization for the replacement of the front brake pads. The mechanic should've kept the original pads...and since he took it upon himself to also replace the front rotors + the rear pads & rotors, he should still have those parts, too.

Ask for those parts...they're yours and aren't subject to a core fee, so he isn't entitled to keep them. (Most shops keep 'em because customers don't want the parts...the shop then takes the stuff to the scrap metal yard for even more $$$!)

When you get the removed parts back, have them measured to see if they truly needed replacement. If not, file a complaint with the BBB...

If the shop doesn't have the parts any longer (highly doubtful!), file a complaint with the BBB...

You should also contact a local TV station that has an "On Your Side" feature...a segment that helps viewers with this kind of stuff.

Good luck!

Erika

 

I forgot to ask...did you pay via credit/debit card or cash?

 

WOW, bummer, check around with other local MINI owners for a good shop that knows what they are doing. Best of luck and take lots of pics and notes and call the local Fox TV station, they love this stuff. Pay with a CC to have some help from them too.

 

just burn the place down.

no dont to that. i would have them give you at cost for the
EXTRA uncessary work. ask them for your old rotors too.

 

I know I was scammed. Like I said, all I authorized was the brake pads to be changed. I was quoted 150.00 for the job but then picked it up and the cost was over 600.00! He never even called to ask me before doing the rest of the work. I did ask for the old pads and rotors to no avail.

I checked the shop's BBB rating first too.

As far as the sensor/wrong pad issue goes... He told me that the pads he put on did not have the proper notch for the sensor clips. He is really making me mad with all of this but at this point I want it resolved so I can make the claim against the shop.

I paid half cash, half credit card. Stupid me

Oh well, live and learn.

 

When you asked for the old pads & rotors, what exactly did the mechanic say?